By Awuni Lawrence
Bolgatanga, May 26, GNA – Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, has conferred the Sacrament of Confirmation on 188 parishioners during the celebration of the Feast of Pentecost at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in Bolgatanga.
The celebration brought together priests, religious leaders, catechists, families, and parishioners to witness one of the most significant milestones in the spiritual lives of the candidates as they received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Pentecost, celebrated 50 days after Easter, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Christians regard the feast as the birthday of the Church because the Apostles received courage and strength through the Holy Spirit to preach the Gospel to all nations.
The feast also reminds Christians of the presence, guidance, and power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and in the mission of the Church.
According to the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ and is regarded as the sacrament through which baptised Christians receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
The sacrament strengthens the faithful to live their Christian faith boldly, defend the teachings of the Church, and actively participate in the mission of evangelisation.
During the rite of Confirmation, candidates renew the baptismal promises made on their behalf at Baptism and are anointed with sacred chrism oil by the Bishop, while prayers are offered for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His gifts upon them.
In his homily, Bishop Agyenta stressed the missionary nature of the Church and urged Christians to continue proclaiming Jesus Christ to the world.
He explained that Christians were like people who had found bread in a starving world and were therefore called to direct others to Christ, the Bread of Life.
“The very day we stop telling people about Jesus Christ, that is the end of the Church. The Church is alive today because for over 2,000 years, people have continued to tell others about the bread they have found, which is Jesus Christ,” he stressed.
Quoting the words of Jesus Christ to His disciples, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” Bishop Agyenta said the mission of evangelisation could not be accomplished through human strength alone, which is why Christ gave His disciples the Holy Spirit.
He described the Holy Spirit as the giver of life who proceeds from the Father and the Son and strengthens believers for their Christian mission.
The Bishop further explained that although every baptised Christian receives the Holy Spirit, the Sacrament of Confirmation grants special strengthening through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord.
Addressing the confirmation candidates, Bishop Agyenta compared Christians to an army that must be properly equipped before going into battle.
“If you have an army without weapons, without anything, that army is certainly not able to do anything; that is why God empowers and strengthens us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” he said.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/ Audrey Dekalu